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Yesterday and today, the fashion world is in mourning. Karl Lagerfeld has died and the industry will never be the same. He was a cornerstone, a foundation, of the industry.

Karl Otto Lagerfeld was a creative director, fashion designer, artist, photographer, who lived in Paris. Born in 1933 Karl was quick to learn, and branched out as soon as possible. By 1955, after living in Paris for two years, Lagerfeld entered a coat design competition sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat. He won the competition and became quick friends with Yves Saint Laurent, and was then hired by Pierre Balmain. He worked as Pierre Balmain’s assistant, and later apprentice, for three years. (Wikipedia)

Most importantly in the 1980s, when Chanel was antiquated and dying, he took over. He turned it into the multi-billion dollar empire that we know and love today. Insane runways in the Palais in Paris full of rockets, crystals, industrial sites. and models fighting for a change. His collections have met us at the beach and had us walk on water. Never a dull moment his runways were and extension of his personality.

His last show, 2019, Palais de Paris, Haute Couture

With his death may have shared their stories. Models like Naomi Campbell, and Karen Elson, speak warmly of him. Others, say he was a sizist and misogynist. Perhaps, he was a bit of both, he was known to be cruel at times. Karl, however, made a point of saying,

“Everything I say is a joke. I am a joke of myself.”

Karl was indeed a man of great talent. His vision and vast knowledge made and broke careers. He was known for his acerbic wit and sometimes, brutally honest personality.

Karl Lagerfeld, was one thing. Larger than life. He created, made, spoke fashion. He made the industry what we see today. He has left a legacy for us to build upon. Let us hope that we choose to do the right thing with it.

For those of us who were unable to attend Coachella this year (shut up, I hate my self too) Beyoncé proved that she IS EVERYTHING. Goddess, artist and fashionista supreme. Working her bey-otiful booty for 3 hours she pretty much swept the floor with all of us. This is the only time I will ever say this: I am shook.

I’m talking fashion. Yes, Beyoncé is amazing. Yes her performance was a once in a lifetime experience, but so was her insanely over the top outfits. I was floored by the amazing, never-ending, insane, over the top outfits by Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain.

Look at this and tell me you are not overwhelmed and want to happy cry.

These designs by the house of Balmain realized are beyond the beyond. The original sketches are surreal and show the work of the talent and imagination of a true artist. Realized, they are exemplary and enduring. Sorry Jay-Z you have competition. Beyonce and Balmain are truly, unforgettable.

Didn’t see Coachella but dying for your daily tidbit. Here is one of the only decent copies of the show circulating at the moment. Watch Beyoncé and Jay-Z kill “Deja-Vu” at Coachella.

This Spring it’s all or nothing. A nod to the past has brought back defined shapes and a play on colors. Put away your floral’s and head to the stores to pick up your favorite look with an 80’s flare. Shoulder pads are in and demure is out. These looks are soft but tough. Vintage, yet modern.

Classy ladies wear pastels;

At Tom Ford, Gigi Hadid and other supermodels, are wearing pretty pastel pink and yellow. The bold splash of color teases the eye but doesn’t dominate the outfit. Other favorites on the runway consisted of baby blue and a pale or mint green. This season has a sweet statement, with light beauty makeup, a classic closed toe heel, glitterati sparkle, finishing off the look with a splash of color.

Mix and match with a dash of color yet not overpowering. Embrace the suit jacket and boxed shoulder. Skips the nudes and head for pastels. It’s an update, with a nod to the classics, and modern update.

In the history of fashion the 1970s were all about nudes, browns, and stylistically very much about ruffles and loose clothing. In the mid 1980’s there was a huge backlash to the constant earth tones and relaxed style of clothing and woman embraced striking color, square figures and streamlined looks. 1980’s inspired looks are full of bright colors, animal and cartoon prints, finding their niche on the runway and back into the fashion fold in 2018.

Color me pretty;

(Versace SS 2018)

Spring/Summer brings color back to the fashion market. This season’s statement is all about the bold and beautiful. Often seen on the runways of Moschino, The Blonds and jewelry designer Lynn Ban, extreme color is no longer a closet trend.

Seen on 2018’s Spring collection’s we are embracing the adventurous. Animal prints, crazy cartoons, hot pink and orange, electric blues, these have come back in a totally eclipsing way. It’s time to embrace the 80’s colors but instead of being over-sized, mixing and matching, keep your outfit a focused and fearless outline. Bust out your leopard, zebra and giraffe prints. The 80’s are roaring and it’s time you caught up.

Having lived through the 80’s as a child, I missed this playful era of fashion. It means dusting off a dated era and adding an update that makes gives it a contemporary look. Looks that are simplistic, yet eye catching in their statement. Shoulder pads are making a comeback the right way this time, and print’s with color are inspiring and acceptable again. Streamlining your look makes it easy to find an outfit in your closet, no more messy mix and match. Floral’s and 90’s inspired grunge, have given way to much stronger use of colors, even in pastel.

Color, no matter how you wear it is in, and the 1980’s style has a very strong foothold.

(This was an article I wrote for someone else. but was never published.

I do hope you enjoy my gift guide)

It’s the Holidays! Trying to find a gift for your significant other today is extremely difficult. Gift guides are everywhere. There is a great deal information out there and what to buy for your significant other, it becomes a ‘job’. According to figures derived from a national survey completed by the HuffPost, the average couple spend up to $300 on their partner. Here are 3 tips for taking a daunting project, and making it easy to do;

Do’s

Make it from the heart. Always think about the person first. It’s not about what they need, it’s about who they are. Don’t buy an impersonal gift.

Customized gifts for your significant other makes people happy. Every girl loves jewelry. Or get a customized watch or cufflinks for him. If you are married get your rings engraved to commemorate a special moment you shared.

Experiences mean more to people than things often do. Want to really surprise your love? Get tickets to Paris. Go hot air ballooning in Napa. Or just go simple and local. A 15 minute romantic walk alone with your hunny during the holidays madness. An experience, like no other, means you love them AND want to spend time with them.

There are lots of right gifts to buy for your special someone, but what about the wrong? This leaves the problem of finding what you want.

Stay away from boring basics. Instead, put a gift card from her favorite store under the tree with card telling her you will take her shopping. Perfume and lingerie bought by you for her can be difficult to get right. Why not, make her own custom perfume at a perfumery. Ask the sales girl for help to get it just right. If you want to get lingerie, don’t go low end. Try La Perla or Cosabella for great lingerie that fits. It’s available online, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

For him, tie’s, socks and tools are a huge no-no. There are better ways to say, “I love you”. In today’s market, boys want toys. If you are unsure what to buy him, try nice clothing. A custom tailoring appointment for your favorite business man, buying him custom jeans, even shoes. Men in the U.S. spent $26.2 billion on footwear in 2016, an increase of $2.4 billion since 2014, the Boston Globe reported. There is a serious market for shoe’s and it’s the one thing you know he will he love. Often the best policy is to ask what they want. They may just answer you.

The best holiday gift you can give your significant other? Listen to what they say, what makes them truly happy and seeing them smile.

Sarah Burton has taken the Haus of McQueen and made it a fully functioning palais de genius since McQueen’s unfortunate departure in 2002. Her sense of style, art and the dramatic have become a beautiful beast with a dash of feminine mystique.

This season the Haus of McQueen has brought laser cut garments, with an Asian inspired flower design and detailing in leather. With a flourish of kimono like dresses and garments that are reminiscent of the early 40’s, Burton inserts her own twist of the modern with cut out breast petals and dashes of embroidery. Add unique latex mask’s in a stunning representation that is truly, wholly, McQueen wearable art.

Thank god for Style.com and their runway reporting. They report every collection, designer and runway worldwide and those of us in the industry would be lost without them. Especially when we are on the wrong side of the country during NYFW. But business is business and while I hustle and shake in LA (new products, events and interviews coming up) I still have my eye on Fashion Week’s around the world. You, my faithful reader’s, need to be in the know Otherwise there will be mayhem and fashionistas wandering the streets assuming Crocs, and the Kardashian’s are fashionable (gag).

Let’s get started;

This fashion week has been a bluster of basics and classic, romantic notions bring out baby pinks and icy blue to the runway. Chic silhouettes we saw with a touch of mad men, have turned to classic romantics and A-Line sporty outfits with a dash of sex.

Flowing figures and classic summer sexy hit DVF, aka, Diane Von Furstenburg. Diane is a great go to for classy and clean career wear. I highly recommend if you want to look top-notch A list fabulous for a job interview or day time event investing. Her clothing is always perfection.

DVF came through again on the SS 2015 runway. Relying on stripes and checked material adding length and volume created a work worthy collection with a little extra leg, and flare that came as a sexy surprise to her normally subdued dresses.

Angeline Jolie has inspired a leggy look recently in gown’s and I completely approve.

Though many opted for orange this year DVF took to emerald bring and this stunning yellow on model Lais Ribeiro.

Ending the show in true runway fashion, model Naomi Campbell finished the spring collection in this flurry of tulle boasting orange, bright pink and white in an empire waist-lined, babydoll dress.

Well played Dian Von Furstenbeg.

Moving on to a personal favorite, Zac Posen. His collections always bring me back to embracing my sexy side and make me feel like a woman. His designs create a perfect figure on any woman and his use of textile is genius!

We find that this Spring/Summer season Posen’s simple, classical, feminine beauty reigned free with minimalist black’s and white.

Adding the intensity of crimson orange to his collection Posen pair’s it with tight angle’s that create a thin and tall female form. Beauty fanatics, note the orange nail polish and lipstick Posen chose to feature on his models for dramatic flair.

Zac Posen continues to create the ideal of feminine grace in his collection by ending it with this beautiful gown fit for a queen in pure and simple white.

Over at another NYFW favorit BCBG Max Azria chose a more floral and romantic feel with in his collection for Spring/Summer 2015. Fading from barely-there neutral pink to the palest of blues and back to pink again. BCBG Max Azria touched on an almost art nouveau feel with yards of flowing fabric.

A dash of floral mixed pink’s and blue’s on Miho Mijaljcic create’s a perfect mix of elegant for this maxi dress.

And back to baby blue…

This Spring maxi dresses have dominated the runway, leaving skin bare with a combination of sheer panels, deep V’s and off the shoulder or one shoulder pieces. Glowingly graceful is taking hold with career women boasting tight silhouette’s and deep slit’s in their skirt’s and suits.

It’s all about adding a dash of sexy to your daily routine so if you thought of slacking on exercise this winter, fuggedaboutit. Skin is in, and we’re going girly.

Time to start shopping for those skinny and sporty dresses and skirts for next season. Leave the pants at home and don’t forget to pair some gold greens, yellows, pink and my personal favorite ORANGE in with your shopping. If you aren’t sure how to do color try adding a hint to your nails, lip color or accessories.

I’ll keep updating as we travel the runways around the world. Keep checking back for updates!

Leave it to the french fashion house of Balmain to take three everlasting and powerful beauties to grace their new campaign. Partnering with W Magazine, Balmain presents one of the most striking covers of the year.

The cover itself is stunning, but W mag and Olivier Rousteing, the new head of Balmain take things up a notch inside the pages of the magazine. Snagging the powerhouses that are Rihanna, Naomi Campbell and Iman, W magazine creates an overpowering editorial.

Olivier Rousteing proves without a doubt (pictured above), at 27, he is beyond brilliant as the new head designer and creative director of Balmain. We can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. Bring it Balmain!

Nicholas Ghesquiere is a man who never stop’s amazing me. As a stylist and fashion obsessed follower the man, the designer, is what pure fashion genius look’s like. Thankfully, for his first editorial as the head of Louis Vuitton he does not disappoint.

Reigning in the talents of Annie Leibovitz, Bruce Weber and Juergen Teller this editorial is over the top gorgeous.

Thank’s to the people at Style.com we are in the know. The editorial simply named ‘Series 1’ and according to their awesome writer’s, star’s the amazing talent of;

When it comes to the fashion industry we do not take kindly to celebrities turned designers. Our world moves faster than most, is fickle and is overly discerning leaving us hyper critical of our peers. Add the fact a ‘celebrity’ turns designer (see Kanye/Kardashion’s/Nicole Richie/The Olsen Twins) and we are down right bitchy.

As we move forward in the industry, we have embraced the celebrity/designer. Fashion about growth. This has opened the door to talent like Nicole Richie, Gwen Stefani of L.A.M.B and of course Victoria Beckham.

Beckham’s designs have always been simple, clean and easy to mix match. This can be a drawback. Earlier designs from her introduction around 2010 were outright plain, boring and according to Style.com ‘boyish’. Learning from past mistakes she has dropped the androgyny from SS 2014 to create a properly appealing ‘women’s’ line that is less futuristic and modernized. Victoria Beckham brought a new and fresh style with a sleek, feminine look. With elongated dresses and skirts, the sheer trend that adding touches of well placed print and embellishment of pleats, prints, leather trim and fur, she has drawn from an almost vintage look.

Victoria has surpasses her old design’s with excellent choices in emphasizing a silhouette, adding dash of the sheer trend, creating a line that would look classy on any woman.

Beckham has won us over with her FW 2014 collection using elegant style with timeless chic.

After lot’s of coughing, Nyquil and a million vitamins I have beat H1N1. Just in time too. NYFW invites are coming in, shows are lining up for LAFW and I need to get back to business in a big way.

SO here’s the deet’s for today’s too fab fashion event in LA.

In Beverly Hills (of course) DKNY is having a trunk show at the ever lovely shopping hot spot, Neiman Marcus of Beverly Hills. It’s going all day until 5pm PST so if you have car, and will travel, travel here;

Not only do you get to shop the new SS 2014 line but you can meet someone amazing who makes it happen FROM DKNY, the amazing Shirley Warren. This is a great chance to hob nob, network, shop and later do the rodeo drive luncheon.

Like this:

Ok, before you ask where has this lovely bloggy been, I have been deathly ill with the flu for the 2 and a half time. This thing is easy to get apparently if you work at a 50,000 person convention for four days.

But that isn’t what you are here for is it?

My flu story can wait for another day. Fashion, is what really matters on this page. Especially the World of McQueen.

Sarah Burton has my support in spades. She is genius and is carrying on the McQueen legacy with aplomb. Take the newest fashion campaign. Hiring the ever talented Steven Meisel was smart. But genius stepped in when they added the omnipresent Kate Moss.

With creative direction from Pascal Dangin of KIDS, the 4 completed what can only be looked at as an astounding, and very surreal campaign. There is a mini Kate doll in these photos and I’m not sure whether I am more stunned by her or it. Most likely it’s the over all imagery. Intense, bold, beautiful and blue. The hues create the perfect campaign. Well done House of McQueen and Kate Moss. You’ve once again brought art into fashion.

And the campaign video is amazing as well. Very surreal with a nice creep factor.

It’s my favorite time of year. Award Season in LA. That means the roads get shut down, people buy ridiculously extravagant things, everyone is primping and preening, and all the fabulous actors come out of their nicely nestled homes. It also means awards.

Although I am mostly in it for the dresses, this year the nominations are actually feature some astounding actors and actresses who, dare I say it, deserve recognition.

As always the brilliance that is the house of McQueen dazzles us on the runway this year. A collection made of primary colors with a dash of monochromatic in mesh, which was reflected in many collections on the runway this year. Adding a flair of turn of the century designs, patterned mesh and the predominant use of boxy crop tops with plenty of skin, the house of McQueen has struck an artistic note in this years SS 2014 collection.

I thought I had seen it all. Thanks to Youtube and DSquared2, I now know that I haven’t.

This very insane and unique video with Jasmine Tookes and Cara D. bring the cray-cray. Shot by the mad genius Senio Zapruder, this video not only has some of the most gorgeous pre-fall 2013 womenswear, but walks the fine line of insanity. Way to go boys, you did it again.
Enjoy the crazy below…..

After covering Chanel and giving the classic side of fashion for fall, it seemed appropriate to give you ladies and gents an eyeful of Fall madness as well.

The ETRO label has always had an eye for creativity in design. Giving us a taste of their brilliance for fall, their designs encompass color and print with angular edges and futuristic diva-tude. They are all about flair and dare and leave the conventional behind.

Helmed by Gimmo Etro, who started the label in 1968, these designs are an alternative to the sullen colors of fall we often see. Think of ETRO as the cure to all your fall blues, scarlet’s and blacks.

Think you can embrace the insanity? ETRO does too. Check out the runway below.